Cade Cunningham is having a breakout 2025-26 season with the 49-19 Detroit Pistons. In 61 games, Cunningham averaged 24.5 points and 9.9 assists, firmly placing him in the MVP conversation alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, and Victor Wembanyama. However, a concerning health update casts doubt on his durability down the stretch, potentially jeopardising his season.  According to new reports, the Pistons’ star guard may miss key games, jeopardising not only Detroit’s playoff hopes but also his momentum in one of the league’s most competitive MVP races in years.

NBA insider Shams Charania dropped a shocker earlier this morning, revealing information about Cunningham’s latest setback. The reporter divulged that the 24-year-old was diagnosed with a collapsed lung condition and is expected to be on the sidelines for an extended period as we approach the conclusion of regulation.

This campaign, the Pistons’ star man has missed or been limited in multiple games due to a series of “soft‑tissue” issues rather than long‑term structural injuries. Cunningham was less than five games away from qualifying for the NBA awards. Despite carrying Detroit all season, ‘MotorCade’ risks missing out on all-season honors due to the league’s 65-game threshold.

In his absence, OKC superstar SGA will only have to compete against Jokic and Wemby for what could be his second-consecutive MVP title. The Lakers’ Luka Doncic is putting on a late challenge with sensational displays in his last six games, averaging 37.9 PPG, 9.2 RPG, and 7.7 APG.

With games against the Indiana Pacers, Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz, Brooklyn Nets, and the stumbling Golden State Warriors still to come, the Slovenian could make a case for a late MVP title push. But as things stand, Shai remains the outright favorite to bag the award, considering his consistency and popularity in traditional media.

What happened to Cade Cunningham? How long is he out for?

Cunningham reportedly suffered this injury during last night’s matchup vs the Wizards. The Arlington-native played for under six minutes before leaving the court for the rest of the game due to ‘back spasms’. He did not return in the second half, but the Pistons comfortably won with a 130-117 scoreline, with Jalen Duren adding 36 points and 12 rebounds.

Following today’s update, Cunningham could miss the end of the regular season with an average recovery time between one and two weeks.

“He’s expected to miss an extended period of time. The Pistons are not quite sure how long it will be. Could be weeks. There is optimism he could be back for the playoffs,” Charania said on ESPN.

A collapsed lung (medical term – pneumothorax) happens when air leaks into the space between your lung and chest wall, which stops the lung from expanding while breathing. This pressure can cause chest pain, shortness of breath, and sometimes a feeling of tightness or “popping” in the chest.

Popular NBA podcaster Kevin O’Connor highlighted how the likes of CJ McCollum, Terrence Jones, and Gerald Wallace suffered similar injuries in the past. Their recovery schedule varied from 3 to 6 weeks, missing an average of 6-10 games.

The Pistons remain optimistic about having Cade Cunningham back on the team roster by the first or second week of April, just before the season concludes. But they won’t rush his return, considering they need him to be at 100% during the postseason.

Rough break missing out on end-of-season honors for the young shooting guard, but what doesn’t kill you just makes you stronger, we reckon.